The Holy Quran Text. Translation & Commentary (the Example Commentary in Brief)(volume Three)

Occasion of the Revelation (verse No. 28 - 31)

Some of the chiefs of the tribes who had always obeyed their carnal desires, and followed their lusts, went to the prophet with pride and vanity, and said to him:ِ

``O, Mohammad! When you are so surrounded by the poor, beggars, laymen, and labourers, and the slaves, like SALMA"N, ABUZAR, SOHAIB, BALA"L and etc., how can we and other NOBLES, and dignitaries of Ghoreish, come to join you and mix and mingle with these who call themselves Muslims! If you dismiss such people from about yourself, then the road will be paved for us to come and cooperate with you!''

When they said so the above verse (NO.28) was sent down telling the prophet to keep patient with those who call on their Lord in the morning and evening, seeking His presence; and to turn away from them in quest of the splendour of the present life.

[ 638 ] THE BAREFOOTED CLEAN HEARTS

We have already taken the lesson from the companions of the cave that, the standard for evaluation of Man is not his rank and wealth. Among the youths we found a minister, a layman, a shepherd, and his dog, who worked collectively in one line for the love of God. The same object is also followed in these verses with another point of view:

A truthful Muslim turns to God, in the morning, noon and evening or night, by performing his regular daily prayers; and seeks God's presence and nearness. These are very different from him whose heart has been made negligent of God's rememberance, and who is the servant of his carnal desires and lusts.

It was the creed of our prophet to follow the truth that he received from our Lord. The truth is clear and evident, and if some one wants to reject it deliberately, he must accept the terrible consequences of his choice of falsehood, in the blazing fire of God's wrath.

The spirit of Man can be either fed up with the love of God, or with his own carnal love, vain desires, and lusts. The soul cannot contain and retain both of these at the same time. He who follows his carnal desires and caprices will forget his Merciful Lord, and will never be satisfied with what he has. He wants more and more of the adornments of this world, until he meets his dreadful end. But the righteous believer will be rewarded beyond his merits, and a tenfold return for every good action of his so as to prepare him for the excellent and eternal life in the gardens of bliss, in the Paradise.

وَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ مَّثَلا رَّجُلَيْنِ جَعَلْنَا لاَِحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيْنِ مِنْ أَعْنَاب وَحَفَفْنَاهُمَا بِنَخْل وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمَا زَرْعاً(( 32 ))

32- AND STRIKE FOR THEM THE PARABLE OF TWO MEN: FOR [ 639 ]

ONE OF THEM WE MADE TWO GARDENS OF GRAPES, SURROUNDED WITH DATE-PALMS, AND BETWEEN THEM WE MADE CORN-FIELD.

كِلْتَا الْجَنَّتَيْنِ آتَتْ أُكُلَهَا وَلَمْ تَظْلِمْ مِّنْهُ شَيْئاً وَفَجَّرْنَا خِلاَلَهُمَا نَهَراً(( 33 ))

33- EACH OF THE TWO GARDENS PRODUCED ITS FRUIT, AND FAILED NOT THE LEAST. AND WE MADE A STREAM TO FLOW IN THEM.

وَكَانَ لَهُ ثَمَرٌ فَقَالَ لِصَاحِبِهِ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ أَنَا أَكْثَرُ مِنْكَ مَالا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَراً(( 34 ))

34- AND THERE WAS A (REMARKABLE) PROFIT FOR HIM (IN THE FRUIT OF HIS GARDEN). THEN HE SAID TO HIS FRIEND WHEN HE WAS DISPUTING WITH HIM:ِ ``I AM WEALTHIER THAN YOU AND MIGHTIER IN PERSONNEL. (CHILDREN)

وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُ وَهُوَ ظَالِمٌ لِنَفْسِهِ قَالَ مَا أَظُنُّ أَنْ تَبِيدَ هَذِهِ أَبَداً(( 35 ))

35- AND HE ENTERED HIS GARDEN, BEING OPPRESSOR TO HIMSELF, HE SAID:ِ ``I DON'T THINK THIS (GARDEN OF MINE) WILL EVER PERISH.''

وَمَا أَظُنُّ السَّاعَةَ قَائِمَةً وَلَئِنْ رُّدِدْتُّ إِلَى رَبِّي لاََجِدَنَّ خَيْراً مِّنْهَا مُنقَلَباً(( 36 ))

36- AND I DON'T THINK THE HOUR WILL COME ON. AND EVEN IF I RETURNED TO MY LORD I WILL FIND BETTER THAN IT IN EXCHANGE.

[ 640 ]

THE COMMENTARY

THE ILLUSTRATION OF A MATERIALIST WITH PRIDE,

AGAINST A HUMBLE BELIEVER.

VERSE NO. 32 - 36

Here is a simple similitude, to illustrate the contrast between two companions, one of whom is a sincere believer and the other one, a wealthy Materialist; who is a purse-proud, that his material properties like garden, farmland, and excellent house, and furniture, has puffed him up with vanity and pride. He takes his companion with him to his fruitful garden to show him his importance, but his friend looks at them with indifference, and neutral disposition! On contrary to his companion, the believer had all his trust in God.

There in the garden they fell into a dispute about faith, and the life in Hereafter. The wealthy, seeing his fruitful garden; in his vanity and pride said to his companion:ِ

``I am wealthier than you, and mightier in man power; and I don't think this garden of mine will ever perish, and I don't think that the hour of Resurrection will come on; and even if I return to my Lord I will find better than these, in exchange!''

The Materialist who was puffed up with vanity and pride, thought that his power would never diminish, and looked at his friend with a contemptible eye and scornful gaze! But he was more unjust to himself than his friend, and knew not that his vanity and pride was ruining him and all that he had.

قَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ أَكَفَرْتَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَكَ مِنْ تُرَاب ثُمَّ مِنْ نُّطْفَة ثُمَّ سَوَّاكَ رَجُلا(( 37 ))

37- HIS COMPANION SAID TO HIM, WHILE HE WAS ARGUING [ 641 ]

WITH HIM:ِ ``HAVE YOU LOST FAITH IN HIM WHO CREATED YOU FROM SOIL, THEN FROM A SPERM-DROP; AND AFTER THAT FASHIONED YOU INTO A MAN!?

لَّكِنَّا هُوَ اللهُ رَبِّي وَلاَ أُشْرِكُ بِرَبِّي أَحَداً(( 38 ))

38- BUT AS FOR ME; ALLAH IS MY LORD, AND I WILL NOT ASSOCIATE WITH MY LORD ANY ONE.

وَلَوْلاَ إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَاءَ اللهُ لاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللهِ إِنْ تَرَنِ أَنَا أَقَلَّ مِنْكَ مَالا وَوَلَداً(( 39 ))

39- WHY THEN WHEN YOU ENTERED YOUR GARDEN, DID NOT SAY:ِ ``ALLAH'S WILL BE DONE, THERE IS NO POWER EXCEPT IN ALLAH,'' WHEN YOU SAW ME TO HAVE LESS WEALTH AND CHILDREN THAN YOU?

فَعَسَى رَبِّي أَنْ يُؤْتِيَنِي خَيْراً مِّنْ جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهَا حُسْبَاناً مِنْ السَّمَاءِ فَتُصْبِحَ صَعِيداً زَلَقاً(( 40 ))

40- THEN IT MAY BE THAT MY LORD WILL GIVE ME BETTER THAN YOUR GARDEN; AND SEND AGAINST IT, (i.e. YOUR GARDEN) HAIL-STONE FROM THE SKY (FALLING IN SHOWER) THEN IN THE MORNING YOU FIND IT A SLIPPERY BARREN WASTE.

أَوْ يُصْبِحَ مَاؤُهَا غَوْراً فَلَنْ تَسْتَطِيعَ لَهُ طَلَباً(( 41 ))

41- OR IT BEGIN THE DAY WITH ITS WATER HAVING SUNK DOWN, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIND IT AGAIN.

[ 642 ]

THE COMMENTARY

THE ANSWER OF THE HUMBLE BELIEVER (VERSE NO. 37 - 41)

Here the believer companion rejects all the baseless and literary compositions of his friend, about his false and deceiving motives.

First of all he objects against his proud companion for denying God! Although the above verses do not imply that the Materialist denied God, but his denying the Resurrection and raise of the dead consists of denying God's power of creation; and this is why the believer reasons by the three stages of Man's creation. Originated in clay, turned into sperm-drop, and fashioned into Man. These are all the wonderful signs of God's Creating Power; which may prove that raising up the dead is far easier for Him than we may think of it. The believer in the second part of his argument says to his companion:ِ ``If you feel proud of having farmland watered by perpetual stream, and fruitful garden with many children, I am proud to have a Lord, Merciful and Compassionate, Who is the only one true reality; and I worship no one other than him, and associate no partners with Him.''

He then admonished his friend that he could have a better way of enjoying God's Gifts with thankfulness:ِ

``Why then, when you entered your garden did not say:ِ ``Allah's will be done! There is no power except in Allah.'' If you have ploughed the earth, sowed the seeds, and irrigated the land, you have done it by the power and provisions of God. You must not ignore the fleeting nature of the goods of the present life; and also God's punishment which is always preceded by His Mercy and Grace.''

In general sense of meaning the Arabic HOSBA"N is any kind of punishment by way of reckoning. But it also implies a punishment by hail-stone and thunderbolt.

[ 643 ]

وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَى مَا أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَى عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّي أَحَداً(( 42 ))

42- AND, (IT SO HAPPENED THAT) ALL ITS FRUITS WERE DESTROYED! THEN HE BEGAN THE DAY WITH WRINGING HIS HANDS (WITH THE GRIEF) FOR WHAT HE HAD SPENT ON IT, WHILE IT WAS FALLEN DOWN UPON ITS FOUNDATIONS; AND HE WAS SAYING:ِ ``WOULD THAT I HAD NOT ASSOCIATED WITH MY LORD ANY ONE.''

وَلَمْ تَكُنْ لَّهُ فِئَةٌ يَنصُرُونَهُ مِنْ دُونِ اللهِ وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِراً(( 43 ))

43- AND THERE WAS NOT ANY HOST TO HELP HIM EXCEPT ALLAH, NOR WAS HE ABLE TO HELP HIMSELF.

هُنَالِكَ الْوَلاَيَةُ للهِِ الْحَقِّ هُوَ خَيْرٌ ثَوَاباً وَخَيْرٌ عُقْباً(( 44 ))

44- THERE THE GOVERNORSHIP (WAS PROVED TO) BELONG TO ALLAH IN TRUTH. HE IS THE BEST TO REWARD, AND THE BEST FOR THE END. (OF THOSE WHO OBEY GOD).

THE COMMENTARY

AND THIS IS HOW IT ENDS. (VERSE NO. 42 - 44)

The argument ceased, and the believer could not penetrate the truth in the heart of the materialist. He returned home as proud as he had come; not knowing that he was destined to taste his bad luck here in this life. He fell asleep in the night, and a hail stone shower, a flash of lightning with a crash of thunder, an earthquake, or who knows [ 644 ]

what sort of a punishment, stroke his garden by way of reckoning; and in the next morning he could not find anything of what he had last night!

All had been destroyed and reduced to nothing!

What else could he do but wringing his hands with the grief and anger for all that he had lost; and all that he had spent so far! Who could help him then except Allah? All his income, besides all his capital on which his hopes had been built, gone at once; and he was now as poor as his companion or more! No one could now help him; nor even himself could be of any help. He who was thinking too much of his children and dependants, in being helpful in emergency cases, found them all of no use!

One cannot expect his rescue from a drowned. The people in this world are all more helpless than one another.

This parable illustrates the vanity of wealth which may end in blasphemy and destruction. Men with low capacities, when become rich, may easily lose their self-control; and make a show of their wealth and possibilities to the others, to use it as a means of attaining superiority. People too may gather round them as the gnats gather round a piece of sweet, or the ants gather on the carcass of an insect, and this gathering, the rich people who are usually void of knowledge, may take it to be due to their personal influence and attraction.

On the other hand their love for their material properties may become so tender, that they don't think that their superiority and position will ever perish! Even they may think that they are loved by God, that, He has given them so much of wealth and material goods; and if there be a next life at all, they will have a better position and wealth, there too:ِ

``And he entered his garden, being oppressor to himself, said; I don't think this garden of mine will ever perish, and I don't think the hour will come on; and even if I returned to my Lord, I will find better than it, in exchange.''

Some of the lessons that we may take from the above example, are as follows:ِ

[ 645 ]

Aِ The goods of this material world are all fleeting by nature and may vanish swiftly, and therefore we should not rely on them.

Bِ The friends who encircle round about us in time of fortune, are mostly the friends of purse and position, and as soon we lose our rank and wealth, we lose them too! We ought to know that a friend in need is a friend indeed.

Cِ Repentance and return is useless after the punishment of God has overtaken us. Pharaoh too, repented when he was drowned! we read in S 10:90ِ91;

``And We passed the Israelites over the sea with Pharaoh and his hosts in pursuit; until when drowning overtook him, he said:ِ

``I believe that there is no God except He in whom the children of Israel believe, and I am of those who have submitted to God.''

And God's answer to Pharaoh was:ِ

``Now!? And you have rebelled before and were of the corruptors?'' And so was the case with our materialist gardener in the above parable, that when he saw his garden and fruits all destroyed, he said:ِ (VERSE NO.42)

``Would that I had associated no one with my Lord.'' He did say so, but it was too late!

وَاضْرِبْ لَهُمْ مَّثَلَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاء أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنْ السَّمَاءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الاَْرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيماً تَذْرُوهُ الرِّيَاحُ وَكَانَ اللهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْء مُّقْتَدِراً(( 45 ))

45- AND STRIKE FOR THEM THE SIMILITUDE OF THE PRESENT LIFE; (IT IS) LIKE THE WATER WHICH WE SENT IT DOWN FROM THE SKY. THEN THE VEGETATION OF THE EARTH IS MINGLED WITH IT. THEN IT BECOMES DRY STUBBLE, WHICH THE WINDS SCATTER IT, AND ALLAH HAS ALWAYS HAD POWER OVER EVERYTHING.

[ 646 ]

الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِنْدَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَاباً وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلا(( 46 ))

46- WEALTH AND SONS ARE ADORNMENT OF THE LIFE OF THIS WORLD, BUT THE GOOD DEEDS THAT LAST, ARE BETTER IN THE SIGHT OF ALLAH, AS REWARDS AND BETTER IN HOPE.

THE COMMENTARY

THE BEGINING AND END OF LIFE IN A LIVELY PICTURE (VERSE NO. 45 - 46)

The good things of this world are transient and fleeting; but we cannot easily understand that, in our short life of 60 to 80 years. Here the Glorious Qura"n, through an expressive parable illustrates the life on the earth saying:ِ

``Strike for them the similitude of the present life which is like the drop of rain that We send it down from the sky.'' It serves to fertilise and develop the seeds when it sinks down and mingles with the soil. Then the plain of deserts and mountains becomes full of movements. There appears everywhere, the buds, flowers, and fruits, one after another adorning the land. It seems that everything is alive. Every bud smiles, every bird shouts of joy, and every tree is dancing with happiness! But very soon the Fall of Autumn appears, to turn the trees and plants yellow, and make every green grass or leaf, as dry stubble which can easily be scattered by the wind! Not the vegetation alone that, everything down here is fleeting; the rank and wealth, the strength and health, and even the man power and children, all will move swiftly away!

Only the righteous deeds have a lasting value in the sight of God, and may become the foundation of our hopes for God's rewards in the Hereafter.

[ 647 ]

وَيَوْمَ نُسَيِّرُ الْجِبَالَ وَتَرَى الاَْرْضَ بَارِزَةً وَحَشَرْنَاهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَداً(( 47 ))

47- AND (REMEMBER) THE DAY IN WHICH WE MOVE THE MOUNTAINS, AND YOU WILL SEE THE EARTH PLAINLY, AND WE MUSTER THEM ALL, NOT LEAVING BEHIND EVEN ONE OF THEM.

وَعُرِضُوا عَلَى رَبِّكَ صَفّاً لَقَدْ جِئْتُمُونَا كَمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّة بَلْ زَعَمْتُمْ أَلَّنْ نَّجْعَلَ لَكُمْ مَوْعِداً(( 48 ))

48- AND THEY WILL BE PRESENTED TO YOUR LORD IN LINES; (AND WE SHALL SAY TO THEM) VERILY YOU CAME TO US (AS NUDE AND DESTITUTE) AS WE CREATED YOU AT FIRST, THINKING THAT WE WOULD NOT FIX AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOU. (WE WOULD NOT SEE EACH OTHER)

وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَا وَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ لاَ يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلاَ كَبِيرَةً إِلاَّ أَحْصَاهَا وَوَجَدُوا مَا عَمِلُوا حَاضِراً وَلاَ يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَداً(( 49 ))

49- AND THE BOOK (WHICH IS THE RECORD OF DEEDS) WILL BE PLACED (BEFORE THEM), THEN YOU WILL SEE THE SINNERS FEARFUL OF WHAT IS (WRITTEN) IN IT, AND THEY SAY:ِ ``WOE TO US! WHAT SORT OF A BOOK IS THIS, THAT LEAVES OUT NOTHING SMALL OR GREAT, BUT IT HAS IT NOTED DOWN!'' AND THEY FIND ALL THAT THEY DID IT PRESENT, AND YOUR LORD WILL OPPRESS NO ONE.

[ 648 ]

THE COMMENTARY

WOE UNTO US! (VERSE NO. 47 - 49)

The immediate reference here is to three stages of the Resurrection; the stage before it, its connection to Man, and to a part after it.

The verses imply that before Resurrection, our planet and our solar system will all have a total destruction. The moon may stick to sun, and both of them lose their light and luminance. The earth shakes strongly and then flattens. The sky will rent asunder, and the stars will lose their luster and scatter here and there in the space. The mountains will move and become like carded wool. The oceans will burst out, and the graves will turn upside down and the deads will raise up!

In the second stage, people who have raised up from death, will all be present before God in different classes and various lines, all nude and destitute. They have nothing with them of their acquired possessions, that they had accumulated before their death, and thought that they owned it. It will be said to them:ِ ``So you came to us as nude and destitute as We created you in the first time when you thought we would never meet each other''

Then the record of our deeds will be given in our hand to convince us of what We have done. In our record nothing is omitted, and nothing is entered wrongly. If there is a punishment, it has been earned by the sinner himself, and God will oppress no one the least.

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلاَئِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لاَِدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلاَّ إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنْ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِنْ دُونِي وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوُّ بِئْسَ لِلظَّالِمِينَ بَدَلا(( 50 ))

50- AND WHEN WE SAID TO THE ANGELS; PROSTRATE YOURSELVES BEFORE ADAM. THEN THEY ALL PROSTRATED, [ 649 ]

EXCEPT IBLIS, WHO WAS OF THE JINNS. SO HE DISOBEYED THE COMMAND OF HIS LORD. DO YOU THEN TAKE HIM AND HIS OFFSPRING AS MASTERS BESIDES ME WHILE THEY ARE YOUR ENEMY!? WHAT A BAD SUBSTITUTE ARE THEY FOR THE OPPRESSORS.

مَّا أَشْهَدْتُّهُمْ خَلْقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالاَْرْضِ وَلاَ خَلْقَ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمَا كُنتُ مُتَّخِذَ الْمُضِلِّينَ عَضُداً(( 51 ))

51- I CALLED THEM NOT TO WITNESS THE CREATION OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH, NOR THEIR OWN CREATION. AND I WAS NOT (THE ONE) TO TAKE THOSE WHO LEAD OTHERS ASTRAY AS AN ASSISTANCE.

وَيَوْمَ يَقُولُ نَادُوا شُرَكَائِيَ الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ فَدَعَوْهُمْ فَلَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ مَّوْبِقاً(( 52 ))

52- AND THE DAY IN WHICH HE SAYS:ِ ``CALL ON THOSE WHOM YOU THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN MY PARTNERS. AND THEY WILL CALL THEM ON, BUT THEY ANSWER THEM NOT.'' AND WE SET A PLACE OF PERDITION BETWEEN THEM.

وَرَأَى الْمُجْرِمُونَ النَّارَ فَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ مُوَاقِعُوهَا وَلَمْ يَجِدُوا عَنْهَا مَصْرِفاً(( 53 ))

53- AND THE SINNERS SEE THE FIRE, AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ABOUT TO FALL IN IT, AND WILL NOT FIND A MEANS TO TURN THEM AWAY.

[ 650 ]

THE COMMENTARY

DON'T MAKE MASTERS OF SATANS (VERSE NO. 50 - 53)

Once again the argument returns to the fall of Mankind through IBLIS, who is Man's avowed enemy. Allah asked:ِ

``Do you then take him and his offspring as masters besides Me?''

It is indeed a false exchange, to prefer a sworn enemy over our Merciful and Compassionate Cherisher Lord!

In this verse Satan's offspring may mean all those who follow him. Our evil deeds, and even our evil thoughts and motives, might be considered as the offsprings of Satan.

Some people may think too much of Satan, and therefore in the next verse (NO.51) such ideas have been rejected by saying that, God did not call Satan and his offspring to witness, when He created the heavens and the earth; nor even in their own creation.

He who has not any role and effect in the creation of himself and other creatures of the world, and knows nothing of the secrets of existence, how can he become a Lord and a leader. In other word the creation is based on fact and truth, and there is no room for him whose programme is seduction and misleading.

There is also a warning in the next verse (NO.52) that in the Resurrection Day, Allah will say to the polytheists and idolaters to call on those whom they thought to have been God's partners. They will call them, but they receive no answer at all, because there is a part or partition of Perdition between the two parties.

وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا فِي هَذَا الْقُرْآنِ لِلنَّاسِ مِنْ كُلِّ مَثَل وَكَانَ الاِْنسَانُ أَكْثَرَ شَيْء جَدَلا(( 54 ))

54- AND WE HAVE EXPLAINED IN THIS QURA"N OF ALL SORTS OF EXAMPLES FOR PEOPLE, BUT MAN DISPUTES MORE THAN EVERYTHING ELSE.

[ 651 ]

وَمَا مَنَعَ النَّاسَ أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا إِذْ جَاءَهُمْ الْهُدَى وَيَسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّهُمْ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَأْتِيَهُمْ سُنَّةُ الاَْوَّلِينَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ قُبُلا(( 55 ))

55- AND NOTHING PREVENTED MAN FROM BELIEVING WHEN THE GUIDANCE CAME TO THEM, AND ASKING FOR THEIR LORD'S FORGIVENESS; EXCEPT COMING TO THEM THE FATE OF THE ANCIENTS, OR THE PUNISHMENT COME ON THEM FACE TO FACE.

وَمَا نُرْسِلُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلاَّ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَيُجَادِلُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا بِهِ الْحَقَّ وَاتَّخَذُوا آيَاتِي وَمَا أُنْذِرُوا هُزُواً(( 56 ))

56- AND WE SEND NOT THE MESSENGERS EXCEPT AS BEARERS OF GLAD-TIDINGS, AND WARNERS. AND THE UNBELIEVERS DISPUTE WITH FALSEHOOD, IN ORDER TO CONFOUND THE TRUTH, BY IT, AND THEY TOOK IN MOCKERY MY SIGNS AND WARNINGS.

THE COMMENTARY

AS IF THEY WAIT FOR PUNISHMENT ONLY (VERSE NO. 54 - 56)

These verses here come to some conclusion of the preceding arguments:ِ

``We have explained in this Qura"n of all sorts of examples for people....''

The Scripture consists of the history of the past generations with clear cut examples of their sweet and bitter incidents and accidents, which can solve all the serious problems of Mankind; but they did not [ 652 ]

make use of the advices, admonitions, and warnings, accompanied by good-tidings, of the Book! They only adhered to disputes for want of wisdom and discernment. By way of obstinacy they called for repetition of what had happened to the disbelievers of the past centuries!

In other word the stubborn and obstinate people will not believe willingly, and they must either taste the punishment that afflicted the past generations, or at least see that sort of punishments with their own eyes.

Then to console His prophet, Allah says:ِ

``We send not the Messenger except as warners and bearers of glad-tidings.''

The Messenger's duty is to warn us of the dangers of evil, and give us glad-tidings of the life to come with all its splendour, lest we abandon to despair when we see the death of our dearers and nearers.

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ ذُكِّرَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِ فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا وَنَسِىَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَنْ يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْراً وَإِنْ تَدْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْهُدَى فَلَنْ يَهْتَدُوا إِذاً أَبَداً(( 57 ))

57- AND WHO IS MORE UNJUST, THAN HE WHO WAS REMINDED BY THE SIGNS OF HIS LORD, THEN HE TURNED AWAY FROM IT, AND FORGOT WHAT HIS HANDS HAD FORWARDED? WE HAVE PUT A VEIL UPON THEIR HEARTS NOT TO APPREHEND IT, AND A HEAVINESS IN THEIR EARS (SO THAT THEY DON'T HEAR). AND IF YOU CALL THEM TO GUIDANCE, THEY WILL NEVER BE GUIDED!

وَرَبُّكَ الْغَفُورُ ذُو الرَّحْمَةِ لَوْ يُؤَاخِذُهُمْ بِمَا كَسَبُوا لَعَجَّلَ لَهُمْ الْعَذَابَ بَلْ لَّهُمْ مَوْعِدٌ لَّنْ يَجِدُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ مَوْئِلا(( 58 ))

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58- AND YOUR LORD IS FORGIVING, MERCIFUL. IF HE WAS TO TAKE THEM TO TASK FOR WHAT THEY EARNED, HE WOULD HAVE HASTENED THE PUNISHMENT FOR THEM, BUT THERE IS AN APPOINTED TIME FOR THEM, FROM WHICH THEY FIND NO REFUGE.

وَتِلْكَ الْقُرَى أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا وَجَعَلْنَا لِمَهْلِكِهِمْ مَّوْعِداً(( 59 ))

59- AND THESE ARE THE TOWNS (THE RUINS OF WHICH YOU MAY SEE) THAT, WE DESTROYED THEM WHEN THEY OPPRESSED; AND WE APPOINTED FOR THEIR DESTRUCTION AN APPOINTED TIME.

THE COMMENTARY

ALLAH HASTENS NOT HIS PUNISHMENT (VERSE NO. 57 - 59)

The above verses are the complementary to the aforementioned ones, beginning with:ِ

``Who is more unjust than he who was reminded by the signs of his Lord, and he turned away from it, and forgot all that his hands had forwarded.''

The instructions of the prophets remind us of the truth that is planted in our soul by nature and creation. The aim of the prophets (AS HAZRAT IMAM ALI, A.S. HAS SAID), is to make people faithful to the pact and promise, made in their nature when they were created. They are to be reminded of the favours of God that they have forgotten it.

The verses also imply that our soul is already acquainted with the facts and truth that have been sent to us through the apostles, and that they are sent from our Lord God. We also should not forget that our hands have forwarded many wrongs and the prophets have come to [ 654 ]

cleanse us from the dirt and filth of our forgotten sins.

But if in such a case he is reminded by the signs of God, and he still rejects to repent and return; he is indeed the greatest of oppressors to himself! He now deserves to fall down into the abyss of ignorance, darkness, and perdition, due to his utmost folly.

When there comes a time that our sins put a veil upon our heart, and we do not listen to Divine Warning, we have to perish. And such a perdition is due to the height of our own folly, that inspite of having such a Merciful and All-forgiving Lord we should cast ourselves down to such an abyss of ignorance.

[ 655 ]

THANKS FOR HELP

When his Holiness HAZRAT AYATULLAH-AL-OZMA", NASIR MAKARIM SHIRAZI, in the MARCH 1999, ordered me to start translating an expressive summary of his great work on the Glorious Qura"n, which is named as, ``THE EXAMPLE COMMENTARY'' I took his order for the best of opportunities in my life. I immediately resigned of my office, and got rid of all my jobs, in order to use my full time and power, with love and pleasure, on this sacred work. Now after three years of a full time work, I offer to my dear readers the third volume of the whole work, which has to complete in six volumes altogether.

Up to here, half of the whole Qura"n has been translated and published, and it is also found on Internet too.

Whether I have been successful or failed, I have nothing to say. I only know that I have done my best; and I leave the judgement to the Most Merciful and Compassionate Lord, for whose sake and pleasure, and for nothing else; I have done the work.

In the present attempt, I have to give my sincere thanks to the following commentators, translators, and publishers, without whose help I could not have reached the point that I have reached.

First of all, and in particular, I owe to make a mention of MOWLANA ALLAMEH ABDULLAH YUSUF ALI, whose valuable work in translation and commentary of QURA"N, has been the most intimate friend of mine, in the past ten years. I have always had it a sacred duty incumbent upon me to rehearse a few pages of his sacred work first time in the morning, before I started doing anything else:

``And those who came after them say:ِ ``Our Lord! Forgive us and our brothers who came before us into faith, and leave not in our hearts rancour against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed Full of kindness Most Merciful.''

S 59:10

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In this third volume of the work, I also owe much to my dear colleague, Miss Poora"n Pebdani, who earnestly did all the typings, computer work, corrections, and the layout work of the book.

Then I owe a lot of my present attempts to the following translators of Qura"n, books, and publishers:ِ

1- ARTHUR J. ARBERRY- ANSARIAN PUBLICATION QOM P.O.B. 37185/187

2- Dr. M. H. SHAKIR- ANSARIAN PUBLICATION QOM P.O.B. 37185/187

3- N. J. DAWOOD - PENGUINE BOOKS LONDON

4- ENCYCLOPEDIA INTERNATIONAL

5- THE BOOK OF POPULAR SCIENCEِGROLIER NEW YORK (10 VOLUMES)

6- WEBSTER AND OXFORD DICTIONARIES

7- ARABIC / PERSIAN DICTIONARYِBY: SAYYED HAMID TEBIBIYAN

MANSOOR AMINYِBAGHBADORANI

1st. MAY 2002=11 / 2 / 1381

BAGHBADORAN

ISFAHANِIRAN

Tel.NO. 0335ِ6223781

ِ6222512

FAX. 6223781

THE END OF THE THIRD VOLUME